A closer look at the Google Glass experience

The wait is finally over to see what it will really be like to use Google Glass. Google has released a video showcasing the headsets initial features, user interface, and the overall experience of using Google Glass in everyday life.

As we already knew, voice recognition will be the primary method for interacting with the headset, in conjunction with a small gesture-based touch pad and button on the side of the device, but now we are starting to see how these input methods will actually work in practice.

By speaking the phrase “Ok Google”, followed by one of the pre-set commands, you’ll be able to perform a Google search, take a picture, record a video, send a message, or get directions to a location. This appears to be the full list of supported features for Glass thus far but Google has mentioned in the past that they are experimenting with many different ideas. This is just the initially supported feature set.

Back in January Babak Parviz, head of the Google Glass project, described the features as “still in flux” and mentioned that they are “experimenting with a lot of things. The feature set for the device is not set yet”. Now, just a few weeks later, we have a much clearer idea of what to expect from the first iteration of Google Glass, despite not knowing when we’ll finally be able to get our hands on a pair of our own.

For a lucky few however, the wait will not be very long at all. Today Google announced a ‘Glass Explorer’ initiative aimed at creative individuals based in the US. It will give the general public a chance to get early access to Google Glass and offer feedback for how to better develop the hardware, its features and the overall experience.

Being a Glass Explorer will not be cheap though. You’ll need to purchase your own headset for $1,500 dollars plus tax and that’s only if Google accepts your application to take part. So, for the time being, we’ll just have to sit back and enjoy the shiny press shots and inspirational videos, while Google drums up excitement and developer interest for the wireless headset of our dreams.

Now that we’ve seen the Google Glass experience in more detail, could you see yourself wearing a wireless device like this in everyday life? Or would you prefer to just stick with a smartphone?

i’m not so excited about humanity donning their google glasses and checking out even further from real life interaction. I do see an excellent application for first responders and other civil servants, but if I sit down to lunch with a friend and he’s staring back at me those damn things, i will smack him good. he won’t mind because its for the better !

marcusFFF

Exactly. I’ll keep my smartphone for now.

marcusFFF

You’re my hero!!!

zakgee

Says the guy being a dick two comments up.

zakgee

It’s conceivable; they already have apps like that on both iOS and Android.

zakgee

Or maybe it actually works and you’re just being a jackass.

http://www.facebook.com/Kusumi.Richie Rich Bianchi

haha so true… Linux users are pompous… to be fair Linux is complex.

http://www.facebook.com/Kusumi.Richie Rich Bianchi

Frank, I couldn’t find this setting. From what I can tell you just have to search google VERY explicitly but I agree they are trying to censor.

Morgana99

So you guys just sit around masturbating and harassing people you don’t know online all day? Cool.

http://twitter.com/Mortsey Joshua Craft

Holy Goose bumps this is cool!!! now they should put one on either side so that we can watch what other people are seeing in 3D… (I know baby steps.)